What's the worst case scenario with Sam Darnold this year?

[1of10Charnatives]

I just want to throw this out there:

The best case scenario is quite obviously he plays great on a new team with a fresh start and quality skill position players around him. That's a no brainer and what I'm sure we're all hoping for.

But after that I think it gets a little interesting. I don't think the worst case scenario is Darnold flops hard. If he does, we go back to the drawing board and yeah it sucks, but we'll have a high pick in the next draft if he does and we're only out meaningfully a 2nd rounder. Even if Darnold fails fast and obviously, that was worth the shot.

I think the worst case scenario is if Darnold plays well enough to give us a middle of the road record with a rapidly improving roster around him, but not well enough that it's obvious he should be the guy we build around for the future. What if Darnold shows flashes this year and teases everyone and is able to show just enough that he *might* be the guy, but then gets hurt somewhere middle to the later part of the season, say after we've won six games or so. That's the one that keeps me up at night remembering the endless parade of 7-9, 9-7 seasons that we've been stuck with far too often.

Don't get me wrong, I want him to succeed. But if he doesn't or can't, I'd rather him fail hard than tease us and the coaching staff. What worries me is my own perception that this coaching staff might be overvaluing it's ability to coach guys up and overemphasizing raw physical traits and talent which they can't coach. Maybe they turn out to be great at that at the pro level, but at this juncture I say it's still an open question that could lead to us getting stuck in a very familiar feeling rut with a talented roster but a middling qb.

These are the kinds of thoughts I have when I'm bored and I've already watched all the pr0n.

That's right.

All of it.

Except that weird @#%$ with furries. If you like that you need therapy. And probably a cattle prod.

[iamhubby1]

10 minutes ago, 1of10Charnatives said:

I just want to throw this out there:

The best case scenario is quite obviously he plays great on a new team with a fresh start and quality skill position players around him. That's a no brainer and what I'm sure we're all hoping for.

But after that I think it gets a little interesting. I don't think the worst case scenario is Darnold flops hard. If he does, we go back to the drawing board and yeah it sucks, but we'll have a high pick in the next draft if he does and we're only out meaningfully a 2nd rounder. Even if Darnold fails fast and obviously, that was worth the shot.

I think the worst case scenario is if Darnold plays well enough to give us a middle of the road record with a rapidly improving roster around him, but not well enough that it's obvious he should be the guy we build around for the future. What if Darnold shows flashes this year and teases everyone and is able to show just enough that he *might* be the guy, but then gets hurt somewhere middle to the later part of the season, say after we've won six games or so. That's the one that keeps me up at night remembering the endless parade of 7-9, 9-7 seasons that we've been stuck with far too often.

Don't get me wrong, I want him to succeed. But if he doesn't or can't, I'd rather him fail hard than tease us and the coaching staff. What worries me is my own perception that this coaching staff might be overvaluing it's ability to coach guys up and overemphasizing raw physical traits and talent which they can't coach. Maybe they turn out to be great at that at the pro level, but at this juncture I say it's still an open question that could lead to us getting stuck in a very familiar feeling rut with a talented roster but a middling qb.

These are the kinds of thoughts I have when I'm bored and I've already watched all the pr0n.

That's right.

All of it.

Except that weird @#%$ with furries. If you like that you need therapy. And probably a cattle prod.

 

Ditto. Well except for that cattle prod thingy. That sht...is a story for another time.

[LinvilleGorge]

Yep, you hit the nail on the head. Purgatory is the worst case scenario. At the end of the season we're left pretty sure Darnold isn't the answer and way too far down the draft order to have any shot at a Howell or Rattler. Better hope some other QB prospects emerge.

[Tbe]

Yep, that is the worst case. Plays well enough to get another year, but isn’t good enough to ever be great.

frankly, I think this is a likely outcome.

Such is QB purgatory.

[SBBlue]

17 minutes ago, 1of10Charnatives said:

Don't get me wrong, I want him to succeed. But if he doesn't or can't, I'd rather him fail hard than tease us and the coaching staff.

I don't think this will be a problem.  Teddy didn't fail hard, imho, but they saw enough to project the ceiling, and it wasn't enough, unfortunately.  

Quote

What worries me is my own perception that this coaching staff might be overvaluing it's ability to coach guys up and overemphasizing raw physical traits and talent which they can't coach.

They didn't do that with Teddy or Whitehead, I don't suspect they'll do it with Darnold.  They've signed his option, so it looks like this is a two a year experiment.  Of course TB looked like a three year one, so you never know.

 

[hepcat]

The fact they had Justin Fields fall to them and they didn’t pick him is still mind numbing. The only thing Sam Darnold has accomplished in the NFL is missing half a season with mono. 

[SmokinwithWilly]

28 minutes ago, 1of10Charnatives said:

 

Except that weird @#%$ with furries. If you like that you need therapy. And probably a cattle prod.

What about the one where the guys dress up like the Easter bunny and are all hanging outside the bar rethinking their career choices when the waitress comes outside to take out the trash..  

I could go on but I ran out of data on my plan... 

Edited July 28, 2021 by SmokinwithWilly

[SizzleBuzz]

1 hour ago, 1of10Charnatives said:

Don't get me wrong, I want him to succeed. But if he doesn't or can't, I'd rather him fail hard than tease us and the coaching staff.

Blah blah blah...

...what do you predict he will do?

[hepcat]

1 hour ago, SBBlue said:

I don't think this will be a problem.  Teddy didn't fail hard, imho, but they saw enough to project the ceiling, and it wasn't enough, unfortunately.  

They didn't do that with Teddy or Whitehead, I don't suspect they'll do it with Darnold.  They've signed his option, so it looks like this is a two a year experiment.  Of course TB looked like a three year one, so you never know.

 

I think the Panthers and Teddy himself would like to forget the 2020 season ever happened. He already erased all posts that showed him in a Panthers uniform. 

[onmyown]

Pretty simple actually. If he shows flashes and gets a middle of the road like 8-9 record, that is success. You give him another year because he’s already paid. But so was TB, but there are obvious differences.

Some of you have way too high expectations. This team has been god awful for a while now and Rhule just had his second draft and Fitt’s first.

That said a lot depends on how we win and how Darnold plays despite a loss/win. There is a limit as to what the investment is worth and what else is available. If something great comes up and Darnold isn’t solid, it’s safe to say Tepper will jump and move on.

I think he’d have to be TB bad (below average) to be gone. 
 

Edited July 28, 2021 by onmyown

[bigskypanthersguy]

I'm worried he's going to be bad but I'm trying to be more optimistic this year.

Hearing that he hears ghosts really isn't a good sign though and makes choosing him inexplicable, imo, especially at the cost of a second rounder.

[SBBlue]

4 minutes ago, bigskypanthersguy said:

I'm worried he's going to be bad but I'm trying to be more optimistic this year.

Hearing that he hears ghosts really isn't a good sign though and makes choosing him inexplicable, imo, especially at the cost of a second rounder.

 

[BerryLoMein]

Justin Fields has a better year.

[Khyber53]

Worst case scenario for Darnold is that he plays a bit under mediocre but the team has a winning season on the strength of the running game and a stout defense. We get a playoff spot and an early exit, then pick in the last third of the draft.

Worst case scenario is he turns us into the Bears, a decent team with lousy QBing, bad placement in the draft and a coach that no one believes in anymore.

Me, I'm hoping this becomes a redemption story for the ages and Darnold comes in and shines.